Wild Primates and the Bushmeat Trade

The welfare and conservation impacts of commercial bushmeat hunting on wild primate populations across Africa and beyond.

Key Facts

Hundreds of thousands of primates are killed for bushmeat annually in Africa alone
Commercial bushmeat hunting now far exceeds subsistence hunting levels
Primates are often killed by shotgun, causing wounds that lead to prolonged suffering
Infant primates are frequently captured alive after their mothers are killed for the pet trade
Many primate species face extinction as a result of combined bushmeat and habitat loss pressures

Welfare Considerations

Commercial bushmeat hunting causes severe welfare harms at multiple stages - panic and flight during hunts, traumatic wounding from shotgun pellets, prolonged deaths, and orphaning of dependent young. Captured orphans experience compounded trauma: the violent loss of their mother and all social bonds, followed by entirely inappropriate captive conditions. The Great Apes, as our closest relatives, have complex social and cognitive lives that make these harms particularly significant.

What You Can Do

Support organizations working on sustainable protein alternatives in bushmeat-dependent communities
Advocate for enforcement of wildlife trade laws
Never purchase products made from wild primate parts
Support conservation organizations working in Central and West Africa
Raise awareness about the scale and impacts of the bushmeat trade